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BIG names in fashion, including Boohoo and PrettyLittleThing, are making a major AI change and it could lead to surge pricing.

Debenhams Group brands are getting a tech makeover by using artificial intelligence to decide how much items will cost.

Not known, clear with picture desk

But experts have warned it could lead to surge pricing[/caption]

Brands owned by the group are now letting AI set prices in real-time, reacting instantly to trends, demand and what rivals are charging.

The retail giant has teamed up with AI firm Peak to make it all happen.

They reckon this AI system will mean more targeted discounts, so you’re more likely to see deals on stuff you actually want.

It also means the brands can avoid having piles of unsold clothes hanging around.

Dan Finley, chief executive of Debenhams Group, said: “We’ve totally changed how we do pricing.”

“AI helps us make faster, smarter choices, so we can give our customers better value.”

But experts are wary, warning that shoppers could be at the mercy of surge pricing, where AI algorithms automatically raise prices during periods of high demand.

Consumer champion Martyn James warns that “corporate-speak” can obscure the real purpose of these changes.

While the company talks about “automated pricing” and targeted discounts, James points out that “there is also nothing to stop the business increasing prices on demand either.”

He fears that without proper oversight, shoppers could be vulnerable to AI-driven “surge pricing,” as has been seen with hotels and Uber.

Echoing these concerns, consumer expert Scott Dixon believes this is about protecting profits first and foremost.

He said: “The use of AI clearly benefits Debenhams as they can protect profit margins, cut waste and implement surge pricing in-line with increased demand.

“Debenhams needs to show AI is working for its customers, not just shareholders.” 

He also warns of potential price hikes during peak shopping periods like Black Friday and Christmas, stating that dynamic pricing is only fair if it works both ways.

Several retailers, including ASOS and Iconic London, are using AI to make online shopping more interactive.

One example is Nibble, an AI negotiation platform that lets shoppers haggle for discounts before adding items to their cart.

The technology enables a back-and-forth negotiation with a bot, and some users have reportedly secured discounts of up to 40% on ASOS Sample Sale purchases.

The option to negotiate only appears if it’s offered before adding an item to your cart.

In some cases, the feature is timed to pop up when a shopper hesitates over the buy button or seems ready to leave the site.

THE iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans race commences this weekend, with a stunning list of motorsport icons and ex-Formula One stars set to take part.

One of the iconic Triple Crown, alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500, winning the endurance event is one of the most sought after prizes in all of motorsport.

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Jenson Button leads the contingent of former F1 stars racing in the Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend[/caption]

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Mick Schumacher is one of three children or grandchildren of F1 icons taking part[/caption]

F1 stars have a strong recent history in the event, with Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg winning with Porsche in 2015 and two-time F1 champ Fernando Alonso won Le Mans in back-to-back years in 2018 and 2019 with Toyota.

This years event sees 62 cars take to the grid, made up of 21 Hypercars, 17 LMP2 prototypes, and 24 LMGT3s and six teams making up the reserve list.

Among them, as many as 19 former F1 drivers are gearing up to compete, including former world champions, ex-Sky Sports F1 pundits and the relatives of three F1 race winners.

Jenson Button – who won the F1 title in 2009 – headlines the ex-F1 contingent on the grid as he teams up with Sebastien Bourdais, who raced for Toro Rosso in 2008/09, in the #38 Cadillac Hertz Team Jota.

F1 cult heroes including Kevin Magnussen, Antonio Giovinazzi, Robert Kubica, Kamui Kobayashi and Stoffel Vandoorne make up the grid, with Magnussen making his second appearance at the event and first since he was axed by Haas last season.

Paul di Resta is using his time wisely after being axed as a pundit by Sky Sports F1 in 2023 as he joins Jean-Eric Vergne in the 93 Peugeot Totalenergies.

Mick Schumacher and Eduardo Barrichello, sons of ex-Ferrari team-mates Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, make up the list of former F1 stars’ sons at the event.

Meanwhile, Pietro Fittipaldi, the grandson of two-time F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi, is making his third appearance at the event.

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Stars who shone in F2 or F3 but struggled with the step up to F1 are also on the line-up.

These include the likes of Jack Aitken, Nyck de Vries and Will Stevens.

Former F1 star Felipe Nasr is teaming up with Pascal Wehrlein in the #4 Porsche Penske Motorsport, with the latter making his debut at the event.

Three ex-F1 stars are returning once again having won Le Mans multiple times.

Sebastien Buemi raced in F1 for two years but has gone on to win Le Mans a staggering four times to date, while both Brendon Hartley and Andre Lotterer have won the event three times.

An honourable mention for the event is MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, who is making his second appearance at the event.

UK petrolheads can watch the race on TNT Sports or the Discovery+ App.

It starts at 4pm on Saturday.

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Moto GP legend Valentino Rossi is also taking part for the second time[/caption]

AN ultra rare £1 coin could be hiding in your spare change worth 500 times its face value.

The rare piece is worth the small fortune due to an engraving error which is almost impossible to spot.

TikTok/@coincollectingwizard

A rare £1 error coin could be worth £500[/caption]

New 12-sided £1 coins were struck and entered into circulation in 2017 but some were made incorrectly during the manufacturing process.

A small number have the date “2016” engraved in tiny markings on the rim of the coin instead of 2017.

It is not known how many of this type of error coin entered circulation, but find one and it could be worth up to £500, according to one coin expert.

In a recent video on TikTok, account Coincollectingwizard said: “These coins usually feature a tiny micro-engraved date on the rim as an added security feature.

“However, a small number of these coins were mistakenly engraved with the wrong year, showing 2016 instead of 2017.

“This subtle but significant error went unnoticed by many making these coins particularly rare.”

It’s worth bearing in mind, you might not fetch £500 for this coin if you find it in your spare change.

A rare coin is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it on that day, whether that be in auction, on Facebook or eBay.

It might also be worth getting this type of coin verified and valued through The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.

We reveal more details on that service below.

How to spot a rare coin

A coin is usually classed as rare if it meets two criteria – a low mintage figure or it was struck in error.

The mintage figure of a coin relates to how many of it were struck and put into circulation.

For that reason, the less that have been struck the rarer and potentially valuable it is considered to be.

The Royal Mint has a list of some of the rarest coins you might be able to find in your spare change on its website.

For example, the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p is considered the rarest 50p piece, with only 200,000 minted.

In second is the Kew Gardens 2009 50p, of which 210,000 were struck and put into circulation.

How much you can get for either of these coins depends, but one Kew Gardens 50p recently went for £107 on eBay.

The other type of rare coin is an “error” coin, made when an issue occurs during the manufacturing process, like the rare £1 coin mentioned above.

Usually, there’s just a handful of these types of coins in circulation because they were made incorrectly.

One rare £2 error coin has been known to sell for £1,000 previously while another 2p coin is also worth over £1,000.

How to sell a rare coin

You’ve got three main options: in auction, on eBay or on Facebook Marketplace.

The safest way to sell a rare coin is more than likely at auction. You can organise this with The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.

It has a team of experts who can help you authenticate and value your coin.

You can get in touch via email and a member of the valuation team will get back to you.

You will be charged for the service though – the cost varies depending on the size of your collection.

If you are selling on eBay, make sure you list the coin’s price accurately.

You can do this by checking how much other sellers have sold the same piece for.

It’s pointless listing a rare 50p for £100 if people have only been willing to pay £50 for it previously, for example.

Finally, you can sell on Facebook Marketplace, but be wary of scammers trying to get you to transfer money to dodgy accounts.

It can be easier to meet buyers in person and get cash for your coin, but only in daylight and in a public place.

In any case, if you’re selling on eBay or Facebook, decent pictures will help the coin sell for the best price.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

MOTORISTS might have missed this air conditioning setting that is essential for keeping costs down as the weather heats up.

With a warm weekend ahead and temperatures hitting 29C today as Brits head into the summer months, drivers maybe unknowingly wasting money in the fight to keep their cars cool.

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Hitting the ‘driver only’ setting when traveling alone could save power when battling the heat[/caption]

Many motorists might simply set their AC to full blast when trying to handle the heat, and while this will get temperatures down, it might be over-kill if you are travelling alone.

Instead, setting your vehicle’s air con to ‘driver only’ will make sure that all the energy will be used on cooling just you down, rather than refrigerating those empty seats.

A vehicle’s air conditioning can have a very negative impact on its fuel economy by putting a greater strain on its engine, according to The AA.

‘Driver only’ setting

The car insurance company has urged drivers to check if their motor has the ‘driver only’ AC option, and to make sure it is always in use when appropriate.

Air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by between 8 and 10 per cent, amounting to an extra 0.2 and 0.4 litres per hours, according to Kwik-fit.com.

It is also advisable to reduce the increased strain on the engine by turning the flow rate down once the AC has brought your car to a comfortable temperature.

Drivers should also avoid travelling at speed with the windows down, if they are trying to be as fuel-conscious as possible.

Driving with open windows can increase the drag on the vehicle, making the engine work harder to maintain speed.

Getting the instruments in your car regularly serviced is also key to keeping everything working efficiently.

Kwik-fit recommends ensuring that your air-con system is regularly regasssed to keep it running as efficiently as possible while using minimal power.

It also lists ways in which drivers can cut down on having to use the AC at all.

Taking measures such as parking in the shade and opening windows when setting off can help keep the car cool without putting more stain on the engine.

DANNIELLA Westbrook is back in hospital for long-awaited surgery to fix her face after years of cocaine misuse.

The former EastEnders star, 51, went in for a “very long” surgery on Thursday in the hopes to reverse damage caused by her infamous addiction to cocaine. 

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Danniella Westbrook has had an operation to fix her nose[/caption]

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Her boyfriend Charlie Symonds was with Danniella every step of the way[/caption]

Danniella – who ros to fame as fresh-faced Sam Mitchell on the BBC soap, has undergone countless cosmetic procedures over the years after her septum infamously collapsed due to her drug use.

The actress shared an image of her in a hospital bed and holding the hand of her new boyfriend Charlie Symonds, as she updated fans about the procedure.

“Big day for me heading down for a very long surgery right now to rebuild my face. Then I can get back to work and we can get on with our life together @chasarealtal. I love you x,” she wrote and Charlie reshared it saying he was “so proud” of her.

Danniella also shared Charlie’s post and thanked him for being beside her “every step of the way.”

“See you when I wake up,” she added.

Charlie, a boxer, shared a video to his Instagram stories to say “thank you to everyone for the support towards Danniella.”

“This is something that she wanted to do for herself, it’s been a long time coming,” he added.

“I love her for her, I met her for her.. She’s beautiful inside and out. This is something she wants to do for herself.”

Danniella has spent over £500,000 rebuilding her face and in 2023 travelled to Turkey for her fifth facial reconstruction surgery, undergoing a surgical thread lift.

The procedure involved them putting 1,200 threads into her face, and then liposuction to remove fat from her body and put it into her cheeks and lips to make her face more symmetrical.

She also had fat grafting on her chin and her jawline etched.

Following the surgery, Danniella opened up to The Sun that she regretted having it done.

She explained the operation “hasn’t worked” and they took “too much” fatty tissue from her stomach and she’s now “lost her six-pack”.

“I also have big lumps of fluid all over my belly. They’re like big tennis balls. It’s ruined my body,” she fumed at the time.

“I have never been in pain like it. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I was hysterically crying every single day,” she admitted.

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The former EastEnders star has damaged her nose after years of cocaine misuse[/caption]

A LUCKY man who survived a fatal plane crash has revealed he was sat in the same seat as the Brit sole survivor in the Air India disaster.

Ruangsak Loychusak was onboard the Thai Airways flight TG261 from Bangkok to India when it stalled and plunged into a swamp – killing 101 people on board.

Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress

Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress

Loychusak has now revealed he was sat on seat 11A[/caption]

Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress

A picture of Loychusak being rescued[/caption]

But the singer revealed he was sitting in seat 11A when the plane went down in 1998.

The tragedy left 101 of the 132 passengers and 14 crew members dead. Some 45 people were injured.

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It comes as…

• Horror footage shows moment plane crashes into fireball
• Woman missed the flight by 10mins because of traffic
• Names of the Brits who died begin to emerge
• Pilot sent a desperate mayday call in final moments
• More Brits killed than any air disaster since 9/11
• A family shared a heartbreaking final selfie from onboard

Follow The Sun’s live blog for all the latest updates

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Ruangsak said he had “goosebumps” when it was revealed that the only survivor from the Air India crash was seated in 11A as well.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, cheated death after being flung from his seat on the flaming Air India jet – escaping with minor injuries and filmed walking away after the wreck.

He said the plane broke off after the crash and his seat flung out of the wreckage.

Ruangsak said: “The lone survivor of the plane crash in India was sitting in the same seat number as me, 11A.

“I want to offer my condolences to all those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.”

Although the Thai man no longer has his ticket from the doomed flight almost three decades ago, he said the newspaper reports from the time had recorded his seat number.

It would also be available on the flight records, he added.

He said: “I had difficulty flying for 10 years after the crash. I would struggle to breathe, even though the air circulation was normal.

“I avoided speaking to anyone and always stared outside the window, blocking anyone from closing it to maintain my sense of safety.

“If I saw dark clouds or a rainstorm outside, I would feel terrible, like I was in hell.

“I can still remember the sounds, smells, and even the taste of the water in the swamp the plane crashed into.

“For a long time, I would keep the feelings to myself.”

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 242 passengers on board – including 53 Brits and 11 children – smashed into a doctors’ hostel in the west of India on Thursday.

Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress

A newspaper report about the Thai crash[/caption]

Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress

Loychusak in a hospital aftr the crash[/caption]

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The plane was seen disappearing behind buildings before the huge blast[/caption]

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The plane was seen wedged in a building[/caption]

But Ramesh miralously escaped from the burning aircraft, becoming the only person to make it out alive.

Incredible footage shows him walking away from the wreckage almost unscathed.

Flanked by the locals, he can be seen making his way towards an ambulance with blood caking his face.

His boarding pass revealed he was sat on seat 11A, next to the flight’s emergency exit.

Ramesh revealed how he survived the tragic crash that killed everyone on board but him.

Speaking in Hindi, he said: “Everything happened in front of me and I couldn’t believe how I had come out alive.

“I thought for a second that I was going to die. But when I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive. I tried to slip out of the plane.

“I saw the air hostess, other passengers all in front of me. Within a few seconds, it felt the plane had stopped, and the green and white lights switched on.

“It felt like maybe [the pilot] suddenly accelerated to take off, but it went down to a hostel from there at high speed. I saw everything. 

“The door broke [near me] broke off and I tried to slip out. The opposite side of the plane hit the wall. That’s why others could not get out.

“When I got out, I was taken to the ambulance and rushed to the hospital. My treatment is going well, and the people are very supportive.”

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The plane crashed into a doctor’s hostel[/caption]

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 242 passengers on board – including 53 Brits – smashed into a doctors’ hostel in Ahmedabad in the west of India.

The plane was headed to London Gatwick with 232 passengers and 10 crew on board when it crashed just seconds after take-off.

The Dreamliner lost contact just seconds after take-off, according to flight tracking website Flightradar.

A final alert was last logged less than a minute after it started the journey from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

It had only reached 625ft at the time, officials believe.

Seconds before the crash, the Boeing was filmed flying low over the Meghani Nagar residential area with the pilots appearing to be in a desperate bid to keep the plane in the air.

Moments later, it was seen disappearing behind buildings before a huge blast was seen in the distance.

A LOVE Island feud has exploded in the villa, The Sun can reveal.

In Thursday night’s instalment of the new season of Love Island, two hunky men were left after the recoupling – meaning they were vulnerable to being dumped from the show, with the episode left on a massive cliff hanger.

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Blu and Shea have been embroiled in a massive feud after the twist was unveiled[/caption]

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As did Blu[/caption]

The girls picked, with them standing up to make their decision one by one, until only Shea and Blu remained.

Dejon then received a text which read: “Blue and Shea, you are now single.

“Between you both you should now decided who should stay and who should go.”

But both lads were determined to stay and refused to back down.

Blu confidently said: “I ain’t f****** leaving,” as Shea echoed: “I ain’t either.”

And now The Sun can reveal that Blu and Shea get into a rather tense war of words in the most savage dumping twist ever.

A villa source tells The Sun: “Things get very heated between Blu and Shea after the savage twist that they have to decide between them who will go.

“Viewers will see it play out in tonight’s episode but it’s really tense.

“Neither of them wants to back down and while it doesn’t get physical, they get into a real war of words and some of the things they said to each other were brutal.

EXPLOSIVE TELLY PENDING

“Neither boy wanted to leave and it’s pretty explosive telly.

“Emotions were very high as they have both spent months trying to land their spot on the show, so neither one was going to back down easily.”

The hit reality-dating show catapulted back onto our screens earlier this week, and even though we’re just days into the new season, plenty has happened.

Thursday night’s instalment was perhaps the most chaotic of the week, with fans left convinced two Islanders did the deed.

Viewers reckon Harry and Helena had sex after just three days in the villa.

RAUNCHY HIDEAWAY MOMENT

The Sun revealed this week that air hostess Helena, 29, and semi-pro footballer Harry, 30, spent the night together in the hidden suite on Monday.

The pair sneaked away to the Hideaway for some alone time and enjoyed multiple kisses.

They struggled to keep their hands off each other and Harry then pulled the covers over their heads.

The following morning, Harry and Helena told the rest of the Islanders that they just had a kiss and a cuddle.

But viewers watching at home think the pair got up to a lot more than that.

One wrote: “Having sex on international tv on day three???”

A second posted: “Is Harry and Helena going to have sex on day three and isn’t even in a couple?”

A third commented: “Harry and Helena having sex, really?!”

Eroteme

DIMITRI VAN DEN BERGH has announced he is not returning to darts full-time.

The Belgian, 30, stepped away from the sport in April to focus on his mental health.

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Dimitri Van den Bergh has announced he is leaving the PDC Tour full-time[/caption]

Van den Bergh is a member of the Belgian squad for this weekend’s World Cup Darts in Germany.

Teaming up with Mike De Decker, Belgium began their campaign with a 4-1 group stage win over Latvia.

But following Thursday’s victory, The Dreammaker revealed he will not return to the PDC Tour.

Van den Bergh said: “There was so much attention on me. I had talk show requests from Belgium, Germany, England, and Holland.  

“Everyone wanted interviews and I just didn’t feel it was the right time to talk.  

“I didn’t have the right perception of the whole situation. It was all too much at the time. 

“I stepped back to take a few steps forward and tonight proves I’m heading in the right direction. 

“This is me being back managing my career because full-time professional is just not good for my family.”

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Van den Bergh indicated he will still compete in select events.

He continued: I’ve got a second kid coming next month.

“So me and my manager and my sponsors, we already know what’s going to go down. 

“It’s going to be professional in a different level, but I’m ready for it.”

Van den Bergh received his PDC Tour Card in 2015.

The 30-year-old is currently the World No. 22, with his highest ranking No. 5 in 2021.

A World Championship semi-final, Dimi has previously won the UK Open and the World Matchplay, as well as three Players Championship titles.

TOTTENHAM have entered talks with Brentford to sign Bryan Mbeumo, according to reports.

The North Londoners announced Bees boss Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou‘s successor on Thursday.

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Tottenham are interested in Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo[/caption]

Mbeumo, 25, has been strongly linked with a summer switch to Manchester United.

But Sky Sports claim that Tottenham have now emerged as serious contenders for the forward’s signature following Frank’s arrival.

It was previously indicated that Mbeumo fancied a move to Old Trafford.

But the Cameroon international is now said to be “intrigued” by the prospect of reuniting with Frank at White Hart Lane.

Initial talks have been held between Spurs and Brentford over a deal.

The Europa League champions paid around £10m to acquire Frank and his coaching staff, including highly-rated coach Justin Cochrane.

Mbeumo is said to be valued at around £60m by Brentford chiefs.

And Frank himself admitted that the forward should command a significant fee.

BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK

The new Spurs boss said of Mbeumo while still in charge of Brentford: “It is clear that if he is to be sold, it must be for a nice, nice amount. It is a lot. Mucho. Really a lot.

“How many wingers score 20 goals for a mid-table club? And then with seven assists plus his work ethic. And his character. All these things mean that he has a lot, so he is a good player.”

Mbeumo was brought to West London by the Dane in 2019.

The prolific star has since flourished under his management, scoring 20 Premier League goals last term.

SunSport reported earlier this week that Spurs were interested in hijacking Man Utd’s swoop for Mbeumo.

Technical director Johan Lange will play a key role in negotiations.

Lange has a good relationship with Frank, with the pair having worked together at Lyngby in Denmark.

Spurs are chasing a new winger this summer, with Mbeumo among their top targets.

Also of interest is Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

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Mbeumo flourished at Brentford under Thomas Frank[/caption]

PAREPOS.FAJAR.CO.ID, PAREPARE– Badan Kepegawaian dan Pengembangan Sumber Daya Manusia (BKPSDM) Kota Parepare tengah melakukan pengiputan...

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